Im drawn to stories about ordinary people who get tangled up in an extraordinary event or idea or emotion. Im not saying I dont love films about super-people or super-doctors, but my preference is for stories about how we get through this life, what it is to be human, because Im always struggling with it myself.

I never watch anything I do. I really would rather just not know at all how I come across.

I feel as proud to be Jewish as I feel to be black

I do love being an actress. The other stuff, the 'fame', well - you know what? - you don't actually have to buy into it if you don't want to.

My main form of exercise is my bike. I dont have a car, so I cycle everywhere.

I dont like going for more than a year without doing theater. I dont mind falling flat on my face so long as I feel Im open to the possibility of something extraordinary happening.

As a black actress, all I was offered in British film was the best friend role, whereas in television, I was offered a whole spectrum of parts.